Office of The Bishop 

Statement concerning the Vatican Meeting on the Protection of Minors
Statement on Abortion Legislation
            en español
2018 Fall USCCB Assembly 
WSCC Release on Abortion Mandate
Catholic Schools Week 2018
Pastoral Letter on Immigration
Carta pastoral sobre inmigracion
Pastoral Letter on Poverty

Statement on behalf of Bishop Daly regarding Catholic Schools and a presentation by Anne McClain:

In response to Anne McClain’s presentation at Gonzaga Prep, Bishop Daly has made no declaration whether the Catholic schools in the diocese may or may not attend. In keeping with Catholic education as one of his top priorities, and valuing the principle of subsidiarity, Bishop Daly supports the pastors and principals of schools in making decisions about school activities.
 

Prayers for the Repose of the Soul of William Cardinal Levada

Please join me in prayer for the repose of the soul of William Cardinal Levada who died yesterday at the age of 83.  His Eminence was the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.  I served under the Cardinal as Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese and observed first hand his strong leadership and unwavering fidelity to the Church. 

We were blessed to have the Cardinal here in Spokane last year as he led our diocesan Lourdes Novena for Healing at the Cathedral. May God grant him the reward of a good and faithful servant.  Rest in peace.
 

In Christ,
 
Bishop Daly
 

Congratulations and welcome to Archbishop Paul Etienne. I’ve known Archbishop Etienne through our work together with Catholic Home Missions, as well as through the Region XII group of bishops in the United States. He is an excellent bishop and pastor; both the Archdiocese of Seattle and Archbishop Sartain will be blessed by his new ministry in Seattle.
 

Dear Friends,

Each January as the nation commemorates the sad anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, marches are held, and vigils are prayed. Those committed to the cause of human rights of the unborn make their voices heard. This year, pro-abortion politicians fearing increased restrictions on abortion have advocated for and passed laws expanding access to abortion in the state of New York. Similar attempts have been made in Virginia.

Efforts to expand access to abortion, allowing murder of children up to the moment of birth is evil. Children are a gift from God, no matter the circumstances of their conception. They not only have a right to life, but we as a society have a moral obligation to protect them from harm.

The champion of this abortion legislation is Andrew Cuomo, a Catholic and governor of New York. Governor Cuomo frequently cites his Catholic faith in support of legislation he favors. His public witness as a Catholic politician, coupled with his stalwart support of abortion, is unacceptable.

Politicians who reside in the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, and who obstinately persevere in their public support for abortion, should not receive Communion without first being reconciled to Christ and the Church (cf. Canon 915; "Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion. General Principles." Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2004).

The Church’s commitment to the life of every human person from conception until death is firm. God alone is the author of life and for the civil government to sanction the willful murder of children is unacceptable. For a Catholic political leader to do so is scandalous.

I encourage the faithful to turn to our Lord in prayer for our political leaders, entrusting them especially to the intercession of St. Thomas More, a public servant who preferred to die at the hands of civil authorities rather than abandon Christ and the Church. Let us also keep the unborn, as well as all pregnant mothers, in our prayers.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts forever.

In Christ,
Most Reverend Thomas A. Daly Bishop of Spokane

PDF in English 
PDF En Español 

Dear Friends in Christ,
 
As you may know, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops gathered this week in Baltimore for our annual fall assembly. Our intended agenda was to deal with the ongoing sex abuse crisis in our Church. Along with many of my brother bishops, I was surprised and disappointed to learn that the Holy See had instructed the USCCB not to hold binding votes on the proposed “Code of Conduct for Bishops” or the proposal to create a lay commission to investigate claims against bishops.
 
As a member of the US Bishop’s Committee for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations I helped review and edit the proposed “Code of Conduct for Bishops.” This document is an important step towards renewal and a real commitment by us, your bishops, to act with utmost integrity.
 
The instruction not to vote on the two proposals could be interpreted as a lack of care and concern for victims and their families. From the comments of many of the faithful of Eastern Washington and beyond, the lay people expect us to act. We must pray that Pope Francis and the Curia understand how the Church's ability to proclaim the Gospel and teach the Faith will be damaged, perhaps beyond repair in our lifetime, if we do not act.
 
As a body, the US Bishops must insist not only on accountability for bishops but also for religious superiors and provincials. They too need to be held accountable for any harassment or predatory behavior towards seminarians and professed religious men and women.
 
Please pray for Pope Francis, my brother bishops, and me that we may make progress on bringing about the reforms so desperately needed.
  
In Christ,
 
Bishop Thomas Daly

PDF: Statement regarding the USCCB 2018 General Assembly 

PDF available here

Bishop Daly's Personal Reflections in response to the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report

(Originally Shared on Twitter)

During times of great sin in the world, God always raises up holy priests and religious to call the world to faith in Christ. During times of corruption and degeneracy in the clergy, God raises up holy lay women and men to call the church back to holiness.

We need the laity to help lead the way. Today’s statement by Cardinal DiNardo and the USCCB is a start towards the reforms we need to ensure that sin and degeneracy cannot flourish in the clergy, nor corruption in the episcopal leadership. Link to USCCB Statement: https://t.co/eDQ5AAbRuL

The Pennsylvania Grand Jury report is nauseating; the immoral acts of Archbishop McCarrick are despicable. The abuses wounded vulnerable persons in profoundly devastating ways, and the cover-up has harmed every Catholic by betraying the trust that they had in us bishops.

Words are not enough, we need concrete action to restore trust. For myself and my fellow bishops, I apologize for the failures of bishops in diocese after diocese. I look forward to working with my fellow bishops to establish a lay-led investigation into the abuses and cover-up.

Transparency is needed; what is needed even more are priests, bishops, and laity who live holy lives with integrity so that transparency is not an imposition but a welcome opportunity to witness to the love of Christ and His saving work in our lives.

I pray that no one would let this terrible crisis separate them from Jesus, He is the divine healer and the Good Shepherd. Let us beg Mary, Queen of the Clergy to pray for her priests and guide them to her son Jesus. That they may always seek to be shepherds after His own heart.

Most importantly we pray for every victim of abuse and for every Catholic who feels betrayed by the Church. Our Blessed Mother weeps when her children are hurt by the Church. Let us turn to her in confidence and implore her intercession for the healing of God’s children.

Statement on Archbishop McCarrick

On Friday, July 27th, The Holy See issued the following announcement:
 
Yesterday evening the Holy Father received the letter in which Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington (U.S.A.), presented his resignation as a member of the College of Cardinals.
 
Pope Francis accepted his resignation from the cardinalate and has ordered his suspension from the exercise of any public ministry, together with the obligation to remain in a house yet to be indicated to him, for a life of prayer and penance until the accusations made against him are examined in a regular canonical trial.
 
I am grateful to the Holy Father for his actions. The credible and substantiated accusations against Archbishop McCarrick remind us that even bishops and cardinals must be held accountable for their actions.  The sexual abuse of a minor is an intrinsic moral evil and a crime for all perpetrators no matter their state in life. 
 
I also want to take this opportunity to assure the faithful of Eastern Washington that we continue our efforts to provide a safe environment for all minors and vulnerable adults in our care.  To report any suspicion of abuse by any Church personnel please contact local law enforcement.  In addition, Roberta Smith in our Office of Child and Youth Protection stands ready to assist in any way possible.  She may be contacted by phone at (509) 353-0442.
 
Our Blessed Mother weeps when her children are hurt by the Church.  Let us then turn with humility to the patroness of the Diocese of Spokane and implore her intercession for the safety of all God’s little ones.  Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!